Rodgers hails 'remarkable' Suarez

Brendan Rodgers has hailed Luis Suarez's "remarkable" performance after the striker scored a hat-trick in Liverpool's 6-3 win at Cardiff to keep their Premier League title hopes alive.

The Anfield club found life difficult against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Cardiff on Saturday afternoon, twice falling behind in the first half before scoring four second-half goals to stay second, four points behind table-toppers Chelsea with a game in hand.

Suarez, 27, netted three to take his tally to 28 premier League goals for the season - equalling Robbie Fowler's club record in a single season - and Rodgers has backed the club to keep believing in a title charge.

"[Suarez] is a remarkable player. His determination and his desire is at such a high level. He gets his rewards," Rodgers told his post-match news conference.

"For his first goal, he made a run in behind and he didn't receive the ball. He played himself back onside and after that little spell of possession, we get in behind their defence.

"It's a great cross by Glen Johnson and he's there to finish. If he doesn't, Daniel Sturridge finishes.

"He's a world-class player, who is enjoying his football and long may it continue."

Daniel Sturridge was also on the receiving end of encouraging words from Rodgers, with the striker netting his side's fifth and setting up Suarez with an impudent backheel.

"You saw [Sturridge's] will and determination to get into the box for his goal; wonderful strength and power by Glen Johnson to out-strength young Fabio, and then he hits a wonderful pass off his left foot, 50 yards," Rodgers said.

"Luis [Suarez] takes it down and Daniel [Sturridge] has run 70 metres to get into the box. It just shows you the desire of the team. His back-heel to create Luis' goal was sensational.

"That's what we've got in the team - footballers and technicians that can open up the game for us, we can control the ball. We had large spells of possession which frustrated Cardiff."

Rodgers rejected the suggestion that his side are simply looking to outscore the opposition after conceding three goals against Cardiff, and believes his side have grown in confidence during his reign.

"Look at our imagination and creativity today; you sensed the crowd felt that every time we were in their half, we could score," Rodgers continued.

"That's a wonderful recognition of the type of team that we are. We're certainly not a team that's not worried about defending, that's not the case at all."

Rodgers continued to dampen title speculation, insisting that his side must simply look to overcome Sunderland on Wednesday - but backed the club's fans to keep 'dreaming' of silverware.

"Wednesday [against Sunderland] will be a great night for us," he added. "That's all we can focus on. The fans can believe and dream.

"And when you come to see your team play away from home and they score six goals, you've got every right to do that. They've been a big part of our success this year."